Gov Yusuf’s Planned Defection to APC: Fresh Concern Over Kano Emirship Tussle
Rumours that Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf may defect from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have sparked renewed political anxiety in the state, with observers warning the move could exacerbate the longstanding Kano emirship crisis.
The speculated defection — which has been discussed for weeks and reported as possibly imminent — has reportedly intensified concerns among political stakeholders and traditional institutions in Kano.
Defection Speculation and Political Strain
Governor Yusuf is widely expected to eventually announce his shift to the APC, but the formal declaration has been postponed several times amid internal party deliberations. Supporters of the governor and some APC leaders have prepared for the move, seeing it as a strategic realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Within the NNPP, however, Yusuf’s potential defection has deepened existing fault lines. Many loyalists of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso — the party’s national leader and political mentor to Yusuf — view the reported plan as a betrayal, heightening tensions within the party’s ranks in Kano.
Intersection With Kano’s Emirship Dispute
Political analysts say the defection saga threatens to reignite the state’s delicate emirship tussle, a dispute rooted in changes to traditional authority that have divided communities and political camps.
The crisis dates back to 2020 when former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje restructured Kano’s emirates, dethroning Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II and appointing Aminu Ado Bayero. That decree opened space for rival claims to legitimacy and saw deep political involvement in traditional leadership.
Upon assuming office, Governor Yusuf repealed the emirate restructuring law and reinstated Sanusi, directing Bayero to vacate the palace — a move that was welcomed by some and criticised by others as politically motivated.
With rumours of Yusuf’s defection to the APC gaining traction, observers warn that the shift could alter the balance of influence around Kano’s traditional leadership. Supporters of Bayero — who still see him as the rightful emir — may interpret a political realignment as an opportunity to renew legal challenges or political pressure. Conversely, Sanusi’s supporters worry the governor’s departure from the NNPP and relationship with Kwankwaso could weaken their position.
Security and Stability Concerns
Political commentators have cautioned that a defection at this sensitive time could heighten tensions in the state, with some describing the interplay between politics and traditional authority as a possible flashpoint for unrest if not carefully managed by political and traditional leaders alike.
The ongoing uncertainty adds to Kano’s complex political landscape, where power contests extend beyond party lines into centuries-old cultural institutions — underscoring how deeply politics and tradition are intertwined in the northern state.